After working in the Ministry of Justice in Georgia, he became an assistant to
Mikheil Saakashvili, the then Minister for Justice. In 2002, Kezerashvili became involved in the newly established
United National Movement (UNM) party, and contested in the
2003 Georgian parliamentary election under its banner. After the party rose to power in 2003, Kezerashvili worked in the Finance Ministry from 2004 until November 2006, including a role as chair of the financial police force. On 11 November 2006 he was appointed Defense Minister. Kezerashvili resigned as defense minister on 5 December 2008 during a major cabinet shuffle. His dismissal was expected in the aftermath of Georgia's defeat in the
2008 South Ossetia War. Kezerashvili was succeeded by former ambassador to the
United States,
Vasil Sikharulidze.
Conviction in Georgia After the
change of power in Georgia in 2012, the new government opened an investigation against Kezerashvili. He was alleged to have embezzled €5 million ($5.2 million) during his tenure as defense minister under the auspices of a combat training project. The Georgian government has made repeated failed attempts to extradite Kezerashvili to Georgia. The
Aix-en-Provence City Court ruled against his extradition and Kezerashvili was released in early 2014. In 2016, the United Kingdom also refused to extradite Kezerashvili to Georgia. It has been reported that the State Prosecutor's Office of Israel for Tax and Financial Crimes may also charge Kezerashvili for corruption. In December 2024, Russia's
Federal Security Service (FSB) raided a call center it said was part of an international network that operating in Kezerashvili's interests. Officials allege the call center defrauded 100,000 people in 50 countries, including the European Union. The group's daily profits reportedly group’s reached $1 million a day, mainly through illegal investment scams.
Georgian politics and media On 3 September 2019, Kezerashvili bought control packet of shares of TVFormula, a pro-opposition Georgian TV channel. He has also financially supported Girchi TV, operated by the opposition
Girchi — More Freedom party. It was reported that he was linked to attempts to remove
Nikanor Melia as Chair of the UNM. Melia accused Kezerashvili of attempting to gain "informal influence" over the party. ==References==